Detachable chain-link



J. REID AND A. M. LEAHY.

DETACHABLE CHAIN LINK.

APPLICATION FILED ocr.13.192o.

1,886,732. Patented Aug. 9,1921.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. i3- 1920.

1 ,886,782 Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

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DETACHABLE CHAIN LINK. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3- 1920.

1,3 6,732,, Patented 9,1921.

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JAMES REID, OF WATERTOWN, AND ALBERT M. LEAHY, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSA- CHUSETTS.

DETACHALBLE CHAIN-LINK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

7 Application filed October 13, 1920. Serial No. 416,748.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMns REID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and ALBERT M. LEAHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Detachable Chain-Links, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The objects of our present invention are to produce a chain link capable of bein detached from its associated links in a c aim or cable and especially adapted for use in ship cables; to enable the link to be forged from a high grade or alloy steel, thereby securing greater tensile strength and to allow any defective or broken links to be easily disconnected and repaired, and these objects, among others, are secured, by the construction hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents in side elevation one of our improved detachable links.

Fig. 2 represents an edge view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the de-= tachable or coupling members removed from the link.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 5 represents a side view of the link with the detachable or coupling members removed. v

Fig. 6 represents one of our detachable links associated with two additional links, and illustrating the manner of forming a cable.

Fig. 7 is a detached view of the pin for uniting the detachable or coupling members.

Fig. 8 is a detached view of the keying ring for holding the pin in position.

Fig. 9 represents a detachable chain link having the central stud of the coupling members removed.

Fig. 10 is a transverse central sectional view of the link as shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. -11 is atransverse central sectional view of the link as shown in Fig. 9.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

According to the present practice of forming ship cables, each individual link is provided with an open end having a scarf joint to enable an associated link to be engaged. The scarf joint at the end of the link is subsequently welded. This method of forming the links of ship cables necessitates the use of a metal capable of being welded, and for this purpose wrought iron is commonly used, requiring frequent .tests in order to detect any defective links. The cables are constructed in separate sections termed shots, of varying lengths. Whenever a defective link is detected the entire section is transferred to the repair shop. The sections are united by shackles to form a continuous cable. The use of shackles for uniting the sections of the cables is liable to interfere with the movement of thecable over the Windlass or through the hawse-pipe. By means of our present invention all the links of the cable can be forged from an alloy steel, thereby securing greater tensile strength and reducing the liability of abrasion or corrosion, producing a cable of uniform links capable of being separated for repairing, thereby avoiding the transportation of an entire section or shot, or the use of shackles, and reducing the liability of fouling of the cable. To carry our in vention into effect, we form a cable having alternatedetachable links, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described. The detachable link forming the subject of our present invention is represented in side view in Fig. 1 and in edge view in Fig. 2. i I

The link as originally forged from an al loy steel is represented in Fig. 5 having a C-shape, provided with ends 1, 1, with an open space 2 between them. Each of the ends 1, 1, is provided with cylindrical projections 3, 3, provided at their ends with enlarged flanges 4, 1, forming shoulders 5, 5. The ends 1, 1, are slightly beveled at 6, 6. In case the link'is to be provided with a central stud we form a boss 7 on the side of the link opposite the open space 2 in the end of which weform a V-shaped notch 8. Each of the forged C-shaped links, as shown in Fig. 5, is capable of being used as a hook for cranes or davit falls, but when used as a cable the open space 2 is closed by duplicate coupling members 9, 9, one of which is shown detached in Figs. 3 and 4. The coupling members 9, 9, are likewise forged from an alloy steel having their opposing surfaces 10, 1O, plain, and having forged recesses 3 and 4 fitting the projec- V-shaped notch 8. When the coupling members 9, 9, are placed in position they securely unite the ends 1, l, of the C-shaped forged link, the projection 11, forming a central stud between the openings 13, 13. I

When the coupllng members 9, 9, have been placed in position with their plane sides opposing each other, and inclosing the projections 3 and flanges 4, they areunited by a tapered pin 14 havingat its smaller end an annular recess 15 to receive a lead keying ring 16 which is swaged into the recess 15, thereby holding the pin 14 in position. The pin 14 is substantially like theforelock pin now used to unite the parts of shackles. In place of the pins 14, as represented in Fig. 2, thecoupling members maybe united by means ofa screw 17, Fig. 6, screw threaded into one of the members and having a coun-' ters unk head, or any convenient and suit able method may be employed for holding theplain surfaces 10, 10, of the coupling members in contact. When the pin 14 is employed tozunite the duplicate coupling mem bers,"it is preferably placed at an oblique angle to the plane surfaces 10, 10 of the coupling members in order to resist the strain incident to thelateral movement of the coupling members in withdrawing them from the C'shaped link.

In case it is preferredto prepare the detachable links without a central stud. the projection 11 and the boss 7 can be omitted and the C -shaped link, when assembled, will present a single opening, as shown inFig. 9. The coupling members when the projection 11 is omitted will consist of two semi-cylindrical pieces 9, as shown in sectional view in Fig. 11, each coupling member being recessed to receive the cyl ndrical projections 3 and flanges-4, 4, as represented by broken linesin Fig. 9. By removingthe coupling members 9,-9, links 19 and 20 may be hooked into the detachable'link, asshown in Fig. 6, said links 19 and 20 may also be forged from an lalloysteel and 'inay either be provided with centralstuds or the latter may be omit- .ted, If'the alternate links of the cable are detachable it will be possible to separate the indi vidual links of the cablewhenever it may :be' necessary to repair a link. All the links of thef cable are capable of being forged 'Lwhether solid or detachable, and if made of alloy steel and subsequently subjected to .well known heat treatment the tensile strengthofthe cable may be materially in- ,creased'or, ifcdesired, the weight of the cable 'can 'bedecreasedvveare aware that it has been proposed to construct a detachable link l having a C-shaped member provided with an open side,closed to complete the link, and We do not claim such broadly. The object of 1 our present invention is tosimplify the con struction and reduce the cost and to provide a method of forming a detachable link which can be used either with or without a central stud.

We claim, I 1. A detachable chain orcable link, comprising a C-shaped member having an open side with cylindrical flanged projections at its ends, a pairof duplicate coupling members for closing the open side of said shaped member, each of said coupling mem, bers having recesses for the reception of said projections, and plain abutting sides held in contact in the plane of said C-shaped mem her, and means for uniting said coupling members. v

2. In a detachable chain or cablelink, the combination with a C-shapedmember having cylindrical "flanged projections at its ends, of a pair of coupling members provided with recesses'for said-flanged projections,

with said coupling members applied tothe H '7 Qppositelateral sides of said flanged projections, and means for unitingsaid coupling memberspassing' etween the ends' of said flanged projections.

3, In a detachable chainor cable the combination witha C-shaped memberhaving an open side provided with flangedcylindrical projections at its ends of-a pair of coupling members for closing said open side,

having plain abuttingsides'idiametrical to said cylindrical projections, and means for uniting said coupling members. ij

4. In a detachable chain or cable link, the combination with a .C-shaped memberhaving flanged cylindrical projections at its ends, of a pair of coupling members provided with recesses to-receive said flanged projections, each ofsaid coupling members having projections extending across the link to form a central stud, and means .for uniting said coupling members between the flangedproj ections of thesO-s'h'aped member.

5 .1 In a detachable chain or cable link, the combination with a C-shaped member having flanged cylindrical projections at its ends, of a pair of duplicate coupling members having semi-cylindrical recesses engag-l ing the opposite sides of said flanged projections, with plain abutting surfaces in the plane of said O-shaped member, and means for uniting said coupling membersbetWeen the ends ofsaid cylindrical flanged projec tions."

6. The combination in i a detachable .Ij

i for a chain or cable, of a C-sha'ped link having an opening on one of its sideS, a-projection upon its 81(16 opposite-said opening pro- Vided with aninterior V-shaped notch, a pair of coupling-members forclosing the opening in said link, said coupling members having recesses for engaging the ends of the C-shaped link on opposite sides of said open ing to resist a tensile strain upon the 3- shaped link, means for uniting the coupling members, and projections on said coupling members provided with beveled ends fitting said V-shaped notch and forming a stud dividing link into two parts.

7. The combination in a detachable link for a chain or cable, of a C-shaped member, means for closing the open side of the shaped member and engaging its ends on opposite sides of said opening to resist the tensile strain upon said C-shaped member, consisting of a pair of coupling members, and a pin for uniting said coupling members, said pin passing obliquely through said coupling members.

8. As an article of manufacture, a de tachable link for a chain or cable, comprising a C-shaped member having an open side and flanged cylindrical projections at its ends and a pair of identical coupling mem bers recessed to receive said projections, and means for uniting said coupling members be tween said flanged projections.

9. As an article of manufacture, a detachable link for a chain or cable, comprising a C-shaped member having an open side and provided With projections at its ends, and a pair of duplicate coupling members recessed to receive said projections and resist a tensile strain on said C-shaped member, and means for uniting said coupling members.

Dated this fifth day of October, 1920.

JAMES REID. ALBERT M. LEAHY. 

